Automatic liquid-separator.



0. ZBRKOWITZ.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID sEPARAToR.

` APPLICATION FILED AUG. 28, 1908. 924,524. y Patented June s, 1909.

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OSCAR ZERKOWITZ, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC LIQUID-SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application led August 28, 1908. Serial No. 450,667.

5a, whichimpinge upon the ends of said ears I To all 'whom t mayconcern:

Be it known that I, OSCAR ZERKOWITZ, a citizen of Austria -Hungary,residing at ("leveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic' Liquid-Separators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in` automatic' liquid separatorsfor separating liquids of different specific gravities, particularlywater from gasolene.

The invention is designed more particularly for use in connection withthe liquidconduit leading from tank to carbureter of automobiles, motorboats, and the like, and 1s adapted to prevent any water or foreignmatter entering the carbureter, the water and foreign matter beingseparated and aceurnulated ina chamber or receptacle and when the waterhas reached a predetermined height in said chamber or receptacle, afloatcontrolled valve automatically cuts off any further flow of liquidto the carbureter.

With these ends in View, the invention consists in the novelconstruction, arrangement, and combination of parts, 'hereinafterdescribed, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and' particularlypointed out in t-he appended claims. 4

Referring to the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure1, is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe improved separator,

. the float-controlled valve being shown in its vulve-howl.

' closed position. Fig. 2, an elevation, partly in section, of the upperor valve-head and strainer-cup portion of the same. Fig.'3, across-section view taken through line .3*3, of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, a planview of the under side of the strainer-cap or cover of the strainer-cupmounted in the upper portion of the improved separator.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts throughout all the,figures of the drawings.

The improved separator comprises a cylindrical body or casing 1,depending from and secured to a supportinglate comprising a ring portion2, and a latera ly-extending attaching plate 3.'

A valve-head 4, is secured to the support'- ing-platc yby 'means of opositely-disposed bolts 5, extending upwardlr),r therefrom and passingthrough openings in ears 6, of said The valve-head is secured upon thesuplmrting-plae by means of wing-nuts secured to a float 17, by means o6, said wing-nuts 5B, being locked in position by means of a cross-rod 7passing through suitable openings in the bodies of said wingnuts.

The valve-head 4 is provided with an annular recess'8, for the receptionof the ring portion 2, of the supporting-plate and an annular gasket8a', interposed between the same. The gasket 8a, is referably formed ofcork, rubber-cork, or ot er suitable material adapted to resist theaction of gasolene.

The separator being adapted for use between tank and carbureter, afluid-conduit is provided in the valve-head comprising in the resentinstance, two longitudinally-exten ing inlet and outlet passages 9, and10, terminating at their inner ends at the center of the.v valve-headand threaded at their outer ends forl the rece tion of the ends of theconduitfpipe, the uid from the inlet' passage 9, being adapted to bediverted into the main chamber 11, formed by the casin 1, by means of.an inlet-opening 12, an passing out through an outlet-opening 13, andinto the outletassage 10, as indicated by the arrows in Flig. 1, of thedrawings. The passage of iluid into and out of said main chamber 11, iscontrolledby means of a float-controlled valve for opening and closingcommunication between said i'luidconduit and said main chamber, vsaid'floatcontrolled valve comprising a pivotallymounted valve-stem 1.4,having a self-centering conical head 14, adapted to remain at all timesin position to enter .the opening to be closed, the present embodimentof the invention showing said self-centering conical head applied to theinlet-opening 12, and closing the same by'm inging-on the edges of thelower end or va ve-seat 12, of said l inlet opening.

zontally-disposed lever-bar 15, pivoted at one end to a dependingbearing-stem or post 16, and at the other or free end pivotallya pivotin18', passing through a pair of bearingugs 19, of a standard or stem 0.011 said lloat and through a bearing-slot 20. The

"valve-stem 14, and self-centering conical head 14a, are so disosed-relative to the adjacent parts that w en the float is in its eX-'treme lower osition either in its operative position in tie main chamber11, or when the valve-head 4, and attached float-con-A trolled valveare'removed from the body or casing 1, that Ysaid self-centering conicalhead 14, cannot be withdrawn or other'- Wise disarranged with respect tothe inlet- Opening 12, which acts as a guide for same. It willbeobserved that-when the lever-bar 15, is moved to its extreme lowerposition the valve-stem 14, willabut against the'adjacent bearing-stem16, before the eXtreme ointed end of the head14a, has been withrawn. Thefloat is adapted to normally maintain said valve-stem 14, in an openposition, thus normally permitting communication between thefluid-conduit and the main chamber, the float being sustained near thebottom of said main chamber by means of a supporting-pin or stem 21, ofthe bottom or base 22, of the cylindrical ybody or casing 1. The bottomor base 22, is provided with a pet cock 23, for the purpose -of drawingout the heavier liquid and settlings of foreign matter that mayaccumulate in the bottom portionol" said main chamber. The character ofthe float is such that it will float in water or the heavier .liquid andwill sink in gasolene or the lighter liquid, and hence in the presentinstance, will rise and cut oil communication between the inlet portionof the fluid-conduit and the main chamber when the water er the heavierliquid has reached a predetermined height.

As a further means of separating the heavier liquid or water from thelighter liquid or gasolene, a strainer-cup intercepts the fluid-conduit,said strainer-cup comprising abase or bottom portion 24, and a flangedor rim portion 25, and, in the present instance, is mounted in a'pocket26, of the valve-head, and covers the outlet-opening 13, leading to theoutlet-passage 10, of the fluid-conduit.A The flanged or rim portion 25,is provided with a plurality of openings 27,l in the presentinstance,four in number and rectangular in form, and said openings 27, arecovered with foraminous material,

i their proper position in the poc preferably, in the form of wire gauze28, of very fine mesh (200 to the square inch gives good results).Through this gauze gasolene runs very freely, water with greatdifficulty. Should any water find its way through the gauze coveredopenings 27, itvwill naturall settle to the bottom 24, and is adapted todrain out through the small drain Aor outlet opening 29, in said bottom24. A flanged strainer cap orl cover 30, is mounted in the pocket 26,above the strainer-cup, said cap or cover being provided with a largecircular opening 31, in its body portion, covered with foraminousmaterial preferably, of wire gauze 32. The strainer-cup and its cap orcover, are removably mounted and supported in et 26, by means of a sring latch member 33, one end being pivota y mounted upon and supportedby a depending bearing-screw 34, and the otherbr'free end 35, being suported upon a second depending screw 36. 7Vhen the cross or latch member33, is in its normal or latched position its intermediate upwardly bowedportion 33a, abuts against the bottom 24 of the strainer-cup and, whenit is desired to remove said strainer-cup and its cover the latch membermay be readily swung 4about horizontally on its pivot 34, and saidstrainer-cup and cover can then be readily removed.

The float-controlled valve being adapted to normally permit of the freepassage of the liquid from tank to carbureter, it is evident that thefloat being lighter than water but heavier than gasolene it will remainnear the bottom of the main chamber when surrounded by gasolene, thuspermitting the liquid to freely enter said main chamber through theinlet-opening 12; the liquid passes from the main chamber through the'gauze-covered openings 27 of the strainereup into the supplementarychamber 37, formed by said strainer-cup; thence upwardly through thegauze covered opening 31, of the strainer-cap and through the outletopening 13, leading to the outlet passage 10, of the fluid-conduit, and-thence to the carbureter. The heavie'i` liquid or water during thepassage from tank to carbureter naturally settles to the bottom of themain chamber and consequently when the heavier liquid reaches avpredetermined height, the float will rise closing the inlet-opening 12,as indicated inthe drawings, thus cutting oill any further flow ofliquid to the carburetor. The engine will thus be brought to astandstill and before a particle of water has eutered the carbureter.The chauffeur can then drain off the heavier liquid through the Vpetcock and operations may be resumed as efore.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the operation and advantages of my invention willbe readily understood. f

Having thus described my invention, hat I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is,--

1. A liquid separator for liquids of different specific gravities,comprisin a casing forming a main chamber, a valvecad having afluid-conduit communicating with said main-chamber, a strainerintercepting the outlet portion of said fluid-conduit, and a normal yopen float-controlled valve connected to said fluid-conduit, the floatof said valve being adapted to sink in the lighter `liquid and float inthe heavier liquid and forminfr a main chamber, a valve-head having afiuid-conduit leading into and out'of said main chamber, a strainer-cupintercepting said Huid-conduit and communicating with said main chamberbymeans of openings covered with foraminous material, and a normallyopen iioat-controlled valve in -said main chamber.

3. A li uid-separator for liquids of difierent speci 1c gravities,comprising a cylindrical body forming a main chamber, a valvehead.provided with inletV and outlet openings communicating with saidchamber, a cup having openings covered With foraminous material andformingl a supplemental chamber within said main chamber and covering'said outlet opening, and a floatcontrolled valve adapted to open andclose said inlet opening.

4. A li uid separator'for liquids of difierent speci ic gravities,comprising a casing forming a main chamber, a valve-head having anobstructed Huid-conduit provided with an inlet and an outlet o eningleading into and out of said main cham er, a strainercup covering saidoutlet-opening and forming a supplemental chamber, communicating withsaid main chamber by means of openings in said strainer-cup coveredwithI foraininous material, and a float-controlled valve the float ofwhich is adapted to sink in the lighter liquid and float'in the heavierlliquid and to close said inlet openingwhen the heavier liquid hasreached. a predetermined height in said main chamber.

5. .ln a liquid separator for liquids of different specific gravities,the combination with a casing forming a main chamber, a valve-head onsaid casing and provided with an obstructed fluid-diverting conduitnorinallv communicating with said main chamymain chamber; of a ber, anda strainer cup intercepting said fluid conduit in the u per portion ofsaid bat-controlled valve the float of which is adapted to sink in thelighter liquidv and float in the heavier 1i uid and to close saidfluid-diverting con uit when the heavier liquid in said main chamber hasreached a predetermined height.

6. In a liquid separator for liquids of different specic gravities, thecombination with .a main chamber provided 'at its to with a Vvalve-headhaving a fluid-conduit leading into and out lof said main chamber, and astrainer cup providing a supplemental chamber at the upper portion ofsaid'main chamber and intercepting said fluid-conduit; of aHeat-controlled valve the iioat of which is arranged to sink in thelighter li uid and iioat in the heavier liquid and to c ose saidlHuid-conduit when the heavier liquid, in said main chamber has reacheda predetermined height, and means for draining off the accumulatedliquid in said main chamber.

7. In a li uid separator for liquids of different specigc'gravities, acasing forming a main chamber, a valve-head provided with afluid-diverting conduit normally communieating with said chamber, and anormally open ioat-controlled valve the iioat of which i' is arranged tosink in the lighter liquid and iioat in the heavier liquid and to cose'said fluid-diverting conduit when the heavier liquid in saidmainchamber has reached a predetermined height.

In testimony whereof I have aHiXed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

OSCAR ZERKOWITZ.v

